AN EXTRACELLULAR SUBSTANCE FROM THE WHITE-ROT BASIDIOMYCETE PHANEROCHAETE-CHRYSOSPORIUM FOR REDUCING MOLECULAR-OXYGEN AND FERRIC IRON

An extracellular substance that had single-electron oxidation activity was isolated from wood-containing cultures of the white-rot basidiomy cete Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The substance was partially purified by acetone precipitation, gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G -50 and G-25, and DEAE Affi-Gel Blue gel chromatography. It contained about 18% protein, 20% neutral carbohydrate and 0.28% Fe(II) by weight . This substance was low molecular weight and could catalyze redox rea ctions between an electron donor, such as NADH, and O-2 to produce H2O 2 and to reduce H2O2 to . OH. It reduced Fe(III) to Fe(II) and strongl y absorbed Fe(II). This extracellular substance seems to be involved i n the initial degradation of cellulose and lignin in wood by the fungu s.